Pit bully

Jan Combative GOP San Diego city attorney Jan Goldsmith has long been a fan of the corporate and real-estate lobbying group that calls itself the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. Last year he dressed up as a chorus boy to prance behind someone in a pit bull costume for the group’s tongue-in-cheek musical banquet video.

But there was no big turn by Goldsmith at this year’s lobbyists’ fun-and-funding fest. The termed-out official wound up paying full fare for his $225 meal, using cash from his leftover campaign stash. Besides that expenditure, Goldsmith tapped into his committee to donate $2500 to the local Republican Party and pay his campaign treasurer April Boling $750. He still had $4549 left in the bank as of June 30. Word on the street is Goldsmith won’t be looking to run for any office again, preferring to claim a high-paid position at one of downtown’s pricey legal and lobbying shops.

A likely landing pad, some suspect, is Sheppard Mullin, onetime home to Superior Court judge Tim Taylor, and current professional residence of so-called First Amendment lawyer GuyLyn Cummins. She represented a group of media outlets in a successful attempt to pry loose the infamous Edward Susumo Azano endorsement letter from recently reelected Republican district attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Goldsmith’s connections could eventually earn him as much as $750,000 annually as a lobbyist, says one legal expert.

Comments

While some choose to poo poo the San Diego Taxpayers Association allow me to share two experiences with two members.

5 years ago I contacted the SD Taxpayers Association seeking advice and direction. I and 4 other members of the South Bay were looking for someone, anyone to help us in our endeavors to expose the corruption of the Sweetwater Union High School District. Mr. Chris Cate took the time to speak with me. I have never forgotten that, and we have all seen what the average taxpayer can accomplish when they are attempting to fight the good fight.

I have attended the majority of Sweetwater Bond Oversight Committee meetings in the past 5 years. Mr. Terry McKearney is the SD Taxpayers representative on that committee - Mr. McKearney is a person we all should be comfortable looking out for our tax interests - educated on the issues, honest and focused.

What we all need to remember to do, is, to THANK those who seek to serve vs. use their positions.

How wonderful that a Taxpayers Association representative was helpful to anniej. And how remarkable that the helper turned out to be the heavily GOP-funded and Union-Tribune-backed candidate for the newly-districted City Council seat. How serendipitous that anniej's helper became one of the paid staffers in the office of then-Councilman now-Mayor Kevin Faulconer -- who by rights should be helping his helper to get ahead.

Personally, I thank City Council candidate Democrat Carol Kim for offering voters a better choice.